Blended drinks debut after company says it will shift away from stunt drinks
.svg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale "Nation's Restaurant News")
Starbucks Corp. is introducing two over-the-top versions of its core Frappuccinos that are certain to give blended drink fans an extra caffeine jolt.
The new signature drinks, dubbed Ultra Caramel Frappuccino and Triple Mocha Frappuccino, are layered with caffeine-infused whipped cream made with cold-brew coffee. Certain that the new sweet whipped topping will be a hit, Starbucks said customers can add the cold-brew whipped cream to any cold or hot beverage for an additional 50 cents.
The Seattle-based coffeehouse chain did not reveal the cost of the new Frappuccinos. A Grande version of the blended Ultra Caramel drink at a location in Southern California cost $5.25, 50 cents more than a standard caramel frappe of the same size.
Starbucks launched the now famed and much copied Frappuccino line of blended beverages in 1995. Since that time, the chain has featured more than 60 flavors. The Ultra Caramel Frappuccino and the Triple Mocha Frappuccino drinks are the first new permanent additions to the core menu since crème-based beverages were added in 2002.
The introduction of the new blended beverages come a week after Starbucks said it would shift away from “one and done” stunt drinks. While Instagram-worthy, the one-hit wonders (think Crystal Ball Frappuccinos) didn’t drive repeat business.
In an earnings call last week, COO and group president Rosalind Brewer said the company will pivot to drinks that have “broader appeal.” She said Starbucks plans to reduce extreme LTOs by as much as 30 percent year over year.
The Ultra Caramel Frappuccino should give frappe lovers a new kind of jolt in the afternoon.
The drink is a dark caramel coffee Frappuccino made with dark caramel sauce. The blended flavor is then enveloped between layers of caffeine-infused whipped cream made with cold-brew coffee and dark caramel sauce. It’s finished with another layer of sweet cold-brew whipped cream and a swirl of smoky dark caramel drizzle.
Debbie Antonio, senior manager for Starbucks R&D, said the drink is prepared to ensure customers get the same dark caramel thread “all the way through,” sip after sip.
The Triple Mocha Frappuccino features similar layering. The bottom of the cup contains cold-brew whipped cream and dark mocha sauce. The next layer is a mocha Frappuccino made with mocha sauce, Frappuccino Roast coffee and milk blended with ice. The drink is topped with sweet cold-brew whipped cream and a swirl of dark mocha drizzle.
Contact Nancy Luna at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @FastFoodMaven
Update, May 1, 2018: This story was updated to add background on the Frappuccino line of drinks.
